re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by Cincinnati Bowtie on 6/27/13 at 8:53 pm to whit)

AA helped, but I got tired of being around the sadness and people wired on coffee and cigarettes. I don't want to sound preachy but once I turned my life over to Christ, I haven't had, nor craved a drink. Kinda made a deal with Him. Changing jobs helped because I drank with co-workers a lot, so, I credit Him with that opportunity, because it really was unexpected.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by lsu480 on 6/27/13 at 8:58 pm to lsuguy13)

quote:Lsu480 I'd much rather go that way but how to get a Dr to prescribe you that?

What are you prescribed?

You just need to go to your doctor and tell them what you need. Be honest with them and give them info they can use to put in their files so they can cover themselves and they will give you pretty much anything. Remember that doctors are in business to make money and you are their client, but at the same time don't be an a-hole and try to get them in trouble. Also, a lot of it has to do with your age, the older you are the more likely they are to trust your opinion. Basically just go in there, tell them what you have tried and let them know it worked, tell them why you think you need it, ask them to have you try it for a month and then suggest you meet again in a month to see how it worked. Most reasonable doctors will be ok with this but if yours is not find a new one. Someone will take your money!

I get Xanax, Soma and Tramadol. I used to get Percocet and Vicodin as well but the Tramadol worked well enough that I cut those out.

quote:Lsu480 is a valuable poster, IMO. Dude has some perspective and experience. May not be for everybody, but whatever

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by jdd48 on 6/27/13 at 9:03 pm to baybeefeetz)

I never considered myself an addict really (at least not physically), but I did just quit alcohol altogether at the beginning of this year... just quit cold turkey with no programs or anything like that. I would always do really stupid things when I was drinking, and just decided that I didn't want my kiddos to see their dad drunk anymore. And other things as well obviously - fear of DWI, family embarrassment, etc. I thank God every day that I never got a DWI or killed someone through all my years of drinking. Every time I get tempted to drink, I just remind myself of the possible consequences.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by RealityTiger on 6/27/13 at 9:06 pm to whit)

I'm big into the steps, not necessarily AA meetings. I do make one or two a week when I can, keep in touch with my little network of friends in the program. And when approached, sponsor somebody.

As far as changes, it's never ending for me. I stopped living one way at age 32, and now try to think and live a new way sober. So every day is a "change". One thing I always like to bring up is the problem wasn't the alcohol or the drugs, the problem was me. And by living the steps, staying humble honest open minded and willing, I've not only managed to stay sober, but life is pretty damn good. Even in the midst of chaos.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by SuperSaint on 6/27/13 at 9:10 pm to whit)

Man it's a battle but I'm on my way to living a sober life without having any aspects of my life altered by my past using.

Remembering the things it has stripped from me, (money, freedom, relationships, health) is what will keep me from ever falling off the cliff again.

Also being surrounded by the right people and the people that love you is essential. I hate harping on it again, but that damn girl G4 will always be loved by me from the love she showed me when I needed someone. She was there for me unconditionally when she could have hauled arse and no one would have blamed her. I may owe my life to her.

Loved ones of addicts don't get enough praise. They stick around through the hard times and suffer just as much as the addict but don't even get to enjoy the act of being high/drunk, they just get the pain.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by lsu480 on 6/27/13 at 9:11 pm to whit)

quote:Sober or not, the first people I always think of on the OT when it comes to this subject is Saint, 480 and Shrubber. Y'all are always 100% real. I appreciate that.

SS and Roger had way worse experiences with drugs than I have had though, the fact they got clean is WAY more impressive than me stopping my drug of choice. I was a full blown oxy addict for awhile but I never had to experience rock bottom, I never even came close. TBH I thought I functioned betted on them. The problem was I was spending over $150 a day for a few years and I just couldn't justify spending $50,000 a year on pills. The $ was really the only reason I quit. I also knew it wasn't something I shouldn't do forever, which is why I never approached any doctors for potent pain pills, so I just decided to quit and haven't had any issues since then and its been over 3 years since I took them regularly.